Cotton harvester



(No Model.)

' 48heets-Sheet1. L. C. MQOARTY 8: .G. W. FORD.

' COTTON HARVESTER. No. 585,588. Patented June 29, 1897.

a 15 PETEVRS co, PNORLLTTNO WASHXNOTON u c (No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet2.

L. OQMcGAR-TY & 0. W. FORD. COTTON HARVESTER.

Nd. 585,588. Patented June 29,1897.

mmm

; .iliiiiiiii Hill Q I v g 0 7 8% War In: uoams Paws Co Pumaumn,WASHINGTON b a (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3..

L. O. MGCARTY & G. W. FORD. COTTON HARVESTER.

No. 585,588. Patented June 29, 1897.

, WW8 g k llll (No Model.) 4 Sheets'-Sheet 4.

L. 0. MoGARTY'iz 0. W. 1 0mm. COTTON HARVESTER.

No. 585,588. Patented June 29, 1897- IIIIIHINNIEII Ill! lllllllfiiifii HW h warzyw LTWIZruZZ 1- u ms PETERS coiwnora I of the machine shown inFig. 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

LEWIS C. MOCAR'IY AND CHARLES W. FORD, OF BERNIE, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TOTHE MCCARTY & FORD HARVESTING COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

COTTON-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,588, dated une 29,1897.

Application filed June 22, 1896. Serial No. 596,4:84. (N modeld and itconsists in the novel construction, com- I bination, and arrangement ofparts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of our improved cotton-harvester. Fig. 2 isa side elevation Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3 3of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4AofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the machine, parts being brokenaway. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic transverse view showing how the machineis operated on a ridge or backfurrow. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail viewof one of the pickers. Fig. 8 is a detail View in perspective of apickerguard. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the means of aflixingthe cams to their shafts. Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of therackand-pinion connection between the inside frame and the outer frame.Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional View showing the means of holding theinside frame stationary relative to the outer frame. Fig. 12 is asectional view showing the means of mounting and operating the yieldingplates, which act as cleaners for the pickers.

In the construction of our improved cot ton-harvester we employ thefront trucks 1 and the rear trucks 2. The rear axle 3 passes through'thetimbers 4 and 5, and the front ends of said timbers are connected by thecross-piece 6, which rests upon the rocker 7, and said rocker 7 restsupon the front axle 8. The rear ends of the timbers 4 and 5am connectedby the cross-timber 9. The lower edges of the timbers at and 5 arecutaway, forming .the arches 10, which arches are de signed to allow thefront truck to turn as required to guide the machine.

A cross-timber 11 connects the timbers 4 and 5 at points some distancebehind the arch 10. The rectangular space between the timbers 4t and 5and cross-pieces G and 11 is covered by the boards 12, upon which reststhe seatspring 13, carrying the seat 1 1.

Extending upwardly from the side pieces 4 and 5 at a point in line withthe cross-piece 11 are the posts 15 and 16, the upper ends of whichposts are connected by the cross-piece 17. At the rear ends of the sidepieces eand 5 and extending upwardlytherefrom are posts 18 and 19, theupper ends of which are connected by the cross-picce 20. Timbers 21 and22 connect the ends of the cross-pieces 17 and 20.

Near the upper ends of the posts 15 and 19 are horizontally-alinedbracket-hangers 23 and 24., having bearings in their outer-ends, inwhich bearings is mounted the shaft 25, and said shaft 25 carries uponits rear end the bevel-gear 26 and upon its front end the bevel-gear 27.Mounted upon the shaft 25, adjacent the post 15, is a spur-gear 28, andthe face of said spur-gear passes through the aperture 29 in the post15. Mounted upon the rear end of the shaft 25 and adjacent the post 19is a spur-gear 30, the face of which passes through the aperture 31 inthe post 19. Upon the upper end of the post 16 is a bracket-hangersimilar to the bracket-hanger 24, and upon the upper end of the post 18is a hanger similarto the hanger 23, and mo unted in these hangers is ashaft 32 in a position parallel with the shaft 25 and resembling saidshaft 25 in every particular. Upon the front end of the shaft 32 is abevel-gear 33, and upon the rear end of said shaft is a bevel-gear 34,and upon the front end of said shaft 32 is a spur-gear 35, correspondingto the spurgear 28, and upon the rear end of said shaft is a spur-gear36, corresponding to the spurgear 30.

Near the upper end of the post 15 and on the front side thereof is abracket 37, and upon the upper end of the post 16 and in horizontalalinement with said bracket 37 is a bracket 38, and in the upper ends ofsaid brackets are bearings, in which the shaft operates. Upon one end ofthe shaft 39' is a bevel-gear 40, which meshes into the bevelgear 33upon the shaft 32, and upon the opposite end of said shaft is abevel-gear 41, which meshes into the bevel-gear 27 upon the shaft 25.

Attached to the shaft 39 at a point intermediate of its ends is a handle42, and upon said shaft and near the said handle 42 is a ratchet-wheel43. Near the upper end of the post 19, on the rear face thereof, is abracket 44, and upon the upper end of the post 18 and in alinement withsaid bracket 44 is a similar bracket 45. In the ends of said bracketsare hearings, in which the shaft 46 is mounted. Upon one end of theshaft 46 is a bevel-gear 47, which meshes into the bevel-gear 26 on theshaft 25, and upon the opposite end of said shaft 46 is a bevel-gear 48,which meshes into the bevel-gear 34 upon the shaft 32. Mounted upon thehubs of the truck 2 and rigidly fixed thereto are sprocket-wheels 49 and50.

The shaft 51 is mounted transversely of the machine between the timbers4 and 5 and below the platform 12, and a blower 52 is mounted upon oneend of said shaft and just inside of the timber 5, and a similar blower53 is mounted upon the opposite end of said shaft and just inside of thetimber 4.

The pipe 54 leads from the blower 52 to ward the ground and a similarpipe 55 leads from the blower 53. A pulley 56 is mounted upon the centerof the shaft 51 and is designed to receive a belt for operating saidshaft. A series of bars 57 are attached to the timber 5 and projectdownwardly and are curved backwardly and inwardly. A series of bars 58,similar to the bars 57 in every respect, are attached to the timber 4.

Within the rectangular frame formed by the timbers 21 and 22 and thecross-pieces 17 and 20 is a second rectangular frame mounted forvertical adjustment relative to the first frame. Posts 59, 60, 61, and62 are positioned in the corners of the first-mentioned frame and extenda considerable distance above said frame. The posts 59 and 60 areconnected by the timbers 63 and 64, and the posts 61 and 62 areconnected by the timbers 65 and 66. The posts 59 and 61 are connected bythe end board 67, and the posts 60 and 62 are connected by the end board68. The end boards 67 and 68 are connected at their bottom edges by thebottom 69. Intermediate posts 70, 71, and 72 are interposed between thetimbers 65 and 66 at points equidistant from each other and from theends of said timbers, and similar posts 73, 74, and 75 are interposed.between the timbers 63 and 64.

A leaf-spring 76 is attached at its center to the center and under sideof the cross-piece 17. Screw-eyes 77 and 78 are inserted in the frontside of the end board 68 and near the lower edge of said board, the eye77 being in avertical line beneath the end 79 of the spring 76 and theeye 78 being in a vertical line beneath the end 80 of the spring 76.Arope or cable 81 connects the end 79 of the spring 76 with the eye 77,and a similar rope or cable 82 connects the end 80 of the spring 76 withthe eye 78, and thus supports the front end of the inner frame. Aleaf-spring 83, similar in every respect to the spring 76, is attachedto the cross-piece 20, and ropes 84 connect the end of said spring withthe screw-eyes 85, inserted in the lower edge of the end board 67, thussupporting the rear end of the inner frame.

The upper ends of the corner-posts of the inner frame extend somedistance above the timbers 63 and 65, and the upper ends of said postsare connected tranversely by cross-timbers 86 and 87. Upon the center ofthe crosspieee 86 is mounted a bearing 88, and upon the center of thecross-piece 87 is mounted a Upon the rear end of front end of said shaftis a sprocket-wheel 92. A pulley 93 is mounted upon the shaft near itsfront end, and a belt 94 runs over said pulley 93 and drives the pulley56 upon the shaft 51.

A bracket 95 is mountedupon the rear side and near the upper end of thepost 61, and a similar bracket 96 is mounted upon the post 59. Inbearings formed in the upper end of said brackets is mounted a shaft 97,carrying the sprocket-wheels 98 and 99 upon its ends. Near the center ofsaid shaft 97 is a bevelgear 100, meshing into the bevel-gear 91. Achain 101 connects the sprocket-wheels 49 and 99, and a similar chain102 connects the sprocket-wheels 50 and '98. The sprocketwheels 98 and99areloosely mounted on the shaft 97 and pawls 103, carried by saidsprocket-wheels, engage ratchet-faces which are rigidly fixed to theshaft 97.

Upon the inner faces of each of the posts 15, 16, 18, and 19 arerecesses 104 in horizontal alinement with the shafts 25 and 32. Upon theouter faces of the posts 59, 60, 61, and 62 are toothed racks 105, whichoperate in the recesses 104 and engage the spur-gears upon the shafts 25and 32, as shown in Fig. 10.

A pawl 106 is pivoted to the front face of the cross-piece 17 inposition to engage the ratchet-wheel 43 upon the shaft 39. By operatingthe lever 42 the shaft 39 is rotated, thus rotating the shafts 25 and 32and oper ating the racks 105, which operation raises or lowers the innerframe, as desired. When the pawl 106 engages the ratchet-wheel 43, theshaft 39 is held from rotation as required to prevent the inner framefrom being depressed.

Bearings 107 and 108 are mounted upon the upper sides of the timbers 21and 22, and shafts 109 and 110 are mounted in said bearings. Arms 111and 112 are attached to the inner ends of said shafts, and the free endsof said arms are pivotally and slidingly connected to the posts 71 and74, respectively. An arm 113 is attached to the outer end of the shaft109, and the free end of said arm is connected to the axle of the pulley114. An arm 115 is attached to the outer end of the shaft 108, and itsfree end is connected to the aXle of the pulley 116. The pulleys 114 and116 act as tighteners for the chains 101 and 102, respectively. WVhenthe inner frame is depressed, the distance between the axles of thesprocket wheels over which these chains run is decreased and the pulleys114 and 116 are operated to take up the slack thus caused in the chains.

Slots 117 are formed transversely in the bottom 69, and the cleats 118are attached to the under side of said bottom. 69, surrounding saidslots. Picker-guards 119, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 8, areattached to the lower sides of the cleats 118 with their pointsprojecting inwardly. Plates 120 are hinged at their lower edges to theend cleats 118, and are designed to nearly close the slots 117. Theplates 120 are constructed of sheet metal, and their lower edges arerolled to form bearings for the rods 121, which rods project throughbearings in the end cleats 118 and coil-springs 122 are placed upon theouter ends of said rods in such a way that the tension of said springsis exerted to hold the plates in posit-ion to nearly close the slots117. (See Figs. 12 and 4.)

The inner faces of the posts 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75 have recesses123, and pickerframes, comprising the side pieces 124 and 125 and thecross-piece 126, operate in said recesses.

Eccentric cams 128,129, and are mounted upon the shaft 90 directly abovethe picker frames, one cam for each frame. A strap 131 surrounds each ofthe eccentric cams,'and bifurcated arms 132 connect the straps 131 withthe picker-frames as required to give said frames avertically-reciprocating motion by the operation of the shaft 90. Theeccentric cams are connected to the shaft 90 by by means of the keys133, as shown in Fig. 9. The key 133 is bent at rightangles, and thefaces of the cams have the recesses 134 and 135. \Vhen the free end 136of the key is in the recess 134, the cam is locked to the shaft, andwhen the end 136 is in the recess the shaft is free to turn within thecam. Heartshaped cams, crank-arms,or any device which will impart areciprocating motion from the shaft 90 to the picker-frames may besubstituted for the eccentric cams shown.

Projecting upwardly from the cross-pieces 126 are pipes 137, withinwhich pipes operate the pickers 138. One of the pickers 138 is shown indetail in Fig. 7, and it is constructed of a length of square steel rodhaving the upwardly-projecting barbs 139 formed upon its corners and atitslower end, and the central part of the pickeris twisted to form thescrewthreads 140. It is only necessary that the pickers be polygonal incross-section. They may have more or less than four sides. The

lower part of the threads 140have a greater pitch than the upper part. Aplate of sheet metal 141 hasits side edges attached to the lower edgesof the timbers 64 and 66, and said plate has square perforationsdesigned to receive the pickers 138, and as the pickers are reciprocatedthrough said perforations the action of the threads 140 against thewalls of the perforations imparts a rotary motion to the pickers. Theapertures through the plate 141 conform to the shape of thescrew-threads 140, thus performing the functions of nuts. Upon the upperend of each of the pickers 138 are collars or flanges 142, designed tooperate against the upper ends of the pipes 137 and coil-springs 143 areplaced around the pipes 137 and have their lower ends attached to thecross-pieces 126. The upper ends of said springs are looped around theupper ends of the pickers 138 above the collars 142.

Collars 144 may be placed upon one or more of the pickers above theplate 141 to limit the downward mot-ion of said pickers, as shown inFig. 6. The cams 128,129, and 130 are set in such positions relative toeach other upon the shaft 90 that when one of the pickerframes is at itslowermost point of travel another frame is at its uppermost point oftravel, and another is in a central position. The pickers operate in theslots1l7 between the edges of the plates 120 and between the points ofthe picker-guards 119.

The bracket 145 is attached to the post 60 near its lower end andprojects outwardly therefrom, and a similar bracket 146 is attached tothe post 59. A crank-shaft 147 is mounted in bearings in the outer endsof said brackets. A bracket 148 is attached to the post 62 and a similarbracket 149 is attached to the post 61. A crank-shaft 150, identicalwith the crank-shaft 147, is mounted in bearings in the outer ends ofsaid brackets 148 and 149. The shafts 147 and 150 are bent or offset toform the crank-arms 151, and said crank arms are connected by thebeaterbrushes 152. The brushes 152 consist of boards 153, positionedtransversely of the machine above the bottom 69 and between the slots117, and a series of wire teeth 154 project downwardly from said boards.Projecting from each end of the boards 153 are the arms 155, and straps156 pass around the ends of said arms and form bearings for thecrank-arms 151.

Upon the front ends of the shafts 147 and 150 are sprocket-Wheels 158. Achain 159 passes over the sprocket-wheel 92 and around thesprocketwvheels 158, as shown in Fig. 5, for the purpose of operatingthebrushes 152. Arms 160 are attached to the outer side of the timber 4and project downwardly therefrom, and a conveyer-trough 161 is attachedto said arms. The conveyer-trough 161 is positioned horizontally andextends from the rear end' of the machine to a point adjacent the lowerend of the post 15.

Shafts 162 and 163 are mounted trans versel y of the trough 161, andupon the outer end of the shaft 162 is mounted a sprocketwheel 164 andupon the outer end of the shaft 163 is mounted a spur-gear 165.

An endless carrier 166 operates in the trough 161 and around the drums167 and 168 upon the shafts 162 and 163. A chain 169 connects thesprocket-wheel 164 with the sprocketwheel 170 upon the shaft 97.

An elevator-trough 171 connects with the front end of theconveyer-trough 161 and extends forwardly and upwardly to a positionabove the front truck. A shaft 172 is mounted at the lower end of saidtrough and a shaft 173 is mounted at the upper end of said trough. Uponthe outer end of the shaft 172 is a spurgear 173. A stub-shaft 174 ismounted above and between the shafts 163 and 172, and a spur-gear 175upon the outer end of said shaft 174 connects the gear 165 withthe gear173. An endless carrier 17 6 operates in the e1evator 171 and over drums177 and 178 upon the shafts 172 and 173, respectively. The boards 12extend outwardly under the upper end of the elevator 171 and form aplatform upon which a basket or other suitable receptacle may be placedto receive the cotton as it comes from the elevator.

Thumb-screws 179 are inserted near the upper ends of the posts 70, 71,72, 73, 74, and and are designed to engage recesses 180, formed in theouter surface of the side pieces 125 and 124 of the picker-frames. Whenthe machine is in operation, the thumb-screws 179 are operated untiltheyare out of engagement with the recesses 180; but when it is desiredto transport the machine or to render the same inoperative for anypurpose the thumbscrews 179 are operated to engage the recesses 180 andthus hold the picker-frames from rattling or sliding up and down.

In the practical operation of our improved cotton-harvester the wheelsof the rear truck act as the driving-wheels for the machinery, motionbeing imparted thereto by means of the chains 101 and 102, operatingupon the sprocket-wheels 49 and 50, which are rigidly fixed to the hubsof said driving-wheels. B y means of the ratchet-and-pawl connectionbetween the sprocket-wheels 98 and 99 and the shaft 97 the machinery isrendered inoperative when the trucks are running backward;

but the machinery will continue to operate when but one wheel is runningforward, as required to turn a corner. By means of the bevel-gearconnection between the shafts and 97 the cams 128, 129, and 130 willoperate, thus imparting a reciprocating vertical motion to thepicker-frames, and as the pickers are reciprocated through the plate 141a rotary motion is imparted to said pickers. Assuming that the points ofthe pickers are upon the ground and the machine is started, the pointsof said pickers will be raised and the pickers will be rotated in acertain direction. The barbs 139 will catch the cotton, and the rotarymotion of the pickers will wind said cotton upon the pickers, and thecotton will be elevated to the plates 120, and pressure against theunder sides and inner edges of said plates will open the same, allowingthe cotton to pass upwardly above said plates. The cotton cannot passabove the plate 141. When the vertical motion of the picker is reversedand the picker begins to descend, its rotary motion will also bereversed, and the cotton that was wound upon the picker will be unwoundand will spread out above the upper edges of the plates 120. Then as thepicker continues to descend the cotton will be held above said plates,or if it has not been carried above said plates it will catch upon thepoints of the guards 119 and will be held by said guards until thepicker again ascends, when it will be carried upwardly between theplates and to a position above said plates. As fast as the cottonaccumulates above the plates the brushes 152 will push it sidewise uponthe bottom 69 and into the conveyer 161, and by the endless carrier 166it will be carried to the front end of said conveyer, and from thence itwill be taken by the endless carrier 176 up the conveyer 171, and fromthe upper end of said conveyer it will fall into the basket or otherreceptacle upon the platform formed by the boards 12.

The guards 119 below the slots 117 serve the double purpose ofpreventing rubbish from being carried upwardly with the cotton and ofholding the cotton from falling down after it has once been carriedabove the points of said guards. The springs 143 impart a yieldingdownward pressure to the pickers and thus make it possible to run themachine over uneven ground or even over stones, stumps, and otherobstructions without injury, as when the point of the picker strikes anobstruction the spring 143 upon that picker will give and allow thepicker to remain in a position above the obstruction without injury.

WVhen the land upon which the machine is to be operated has beenback-furrowed or the cotton has been billed up, forming ridges, thecollars 144 (shown in Fig. 6) may be set upon the pickers to limit thedownward motion of the pickers which will strike the top of the ridge.

A medium-sized machine will employ about twenty of the picker-frames,and each frame will carry about thirty pickers.

The bars 57 and 58 are designed to bend the cotton-stalks inwardly andhold them against the pickers. The blowers 52 and 53 are intended tosend a current of air through the pipes 54 and 55, which current of airwill operate to blow away leaves and rubbish which may have accumulatedin the furrows between the rows of cotton and thus make it possible topick up the bolls that may have fallen off and accumulated in saidfurrows. Under ordinary circumstances the inner frame is left to besupported by the ropes and the leaf-springs 76 and 83; but when for anyreason it is desired to raise the range of the pickers the lever 42 maybe operated to raise the inner frame, and by means of the pawl 106 saidframe may be held rigidly in the desired position. It sometimes occursthat the ground is soft and the wheels will settle into the mud, andthen it will be necessary to raise the inner frame in order to keep thepickers from operating in the mud. If desired, the plate 141 may beomitted, and then the picker will operate with the same vertical motionand the rotary or oscillating motion will not take place. If this rotaryor oscillating motion is not desired, the pickers may be constructedwithout the threads 140, and in some cases this construction will besatisfactory.

In the drawings one wheel of the front trucks is shown to be closebeside the front end of the timber 4c and underthe end of the elevator171, While the rear wheel upon the same side of the machine is outsideof the conveyer 161. If desired, both trucks may be made of the samewidth; but it is not necessary that the Wheels of the front and reartrucks should track, and this construction may be varied at will.

WVe claim 1. In a cotton-harvester, the pickers 138, each of saidpickers being constructed of a length of square steel rod mounted in avertical position and having the upwardly-projecting barbs 139 formedupon the corners of its lower portion and having its central portiontwisted to form the screw-threads 140, the lower part of saidscrew-threads having a greater pitch than the upper part of saidthreads; the plateof sheet metal 141 secured in position and havingsquare perforations through which the screw-threaded portions of saidpickers operate, and means for reciprocating said pickers, substantiallyas specified.

2. In a cotton harvester, picker -frames comprising the side pieces 124and 125 and the cross-piece 126 connecting the lower ends of said sidepieces, guides in which said side pieces operate, aseries of the pickers188 carried by said cross-piece 126; each of said pickers beingconstructed of a length of square steel rod mounted in a verticalposition and having the upwardly-projecting barbs 139 formed upon thecorners of its lower portion and having its central portion twisted toform the screw-threads 140, the lower part of said screw-threads havinga greater pitch than the upper part of said threads; the plate of sheetmetal 141 secured in position and having square perforations throughwhich the screw-threaded portions of said pickers operate, and means ofreciprocating said picker-frames within said guides, substantially asspecified.

3. In a cotton -harvester, reciprocating frames, a series of the pickers138 carried by each of said frames; each of said pickers beingconstructed of a length of square steel rod mounted in a verticalposition and having the upwardly-projecting barbs 139 formed upon thecorners of its lower portion and having its central portion twisted toform the screwthreads 140, the lower part of said screw-threads having agreater pitch than the upper part of said threads; the plate of sheetmetal 141 secured in position and having square perforations throughwhich the screwthreaded portions of said pickers operate, and means ofreciprocating said frames, substantially as specified.

4. In a cotton harvester, reciprocating frames, a series of the pickers138 carried by each of said frames; each of said pickers beingconstructed of a length of square steel rod mounted in a verticalposition and having the upwardly-projecting barbs 139 formed upon thecorners of its lower portion and having its central portion twisted toform the screw-threads 140, the lower part of said screw-threads havinga greater pitch than the upper part of said threads; the plate of sheetmetal 141 secured in position and having square perforations throughwhich the screwthreaded portions of said pickers operate, means ofreciprocating said frames, and a bottom having slots through which saidpickers operate, substantially as specified.

5. In a cotton-harvester, the bottom 69 having the slots 117 formedtransversely therein, -vertically-reciprocating frames, a series ofpickerscarried by each of said frames and operating through said slots117, the cleats 118 attached to the under side of said bottom and uponopposite sides of said slots, and the picker-guards 119 attached to thelower sides of said cleats and projecting toward each other and belowsaid slots, substantially as specified.

6. In a cotton-harvester, the bottom 69 having the slots 117 formedtransversely therein, vertically-reciprocating frames, a series ofpickers carried by each of said frames and operating through said slots117, the cleats 118 attached to the lower side of said bottom andsurrounding said slots, the plates 120 hinged at their lower corners tothe end cleats 118 and operating to nearly close said slots, and springsoperating to hold said plates yieldingly in position, substantially asspecified.

7. In a cotton-harvester, the bottom 69 having the slots 117 formedtransversely therein,

vvertically-reciprocating frames, a series of pickers carried by each ofsaid frames and operating through said slots 117, the cleats 118attached to the lower side of said bottom,

and surrounding said slots, the sheet-metal plates 120 having theirlower edges rolled to form bearings, the rods 121 in said bearings andextending through bearings in the end cleats 118, and the coil-springs122 upon the outer ends of said rods and operating to hold said platesyieldingly in position, substantially as specified.

8. In a cotton-harvester, the bottom 69 having the slots 117 formedtransversely therein, vertically-reciprocating frames, a series of ICC;

pickers carried by each of said frames and operating through said slots117, the cleats 118 attached to the lower side of said bottom andsurrounding said slots, the sheet-metal plates 120 having their loweredges rolled to form bearings, the rods 121 in said bearings andextending through bearings in the end cleats 118, the coil-springs 122upon the outer ends of said rods and operating to hold said platesyieldingly in position, and the guards 119 attached to the lower sidesof said cleats 118 and projecting toward each other and below saidplates 120, substantially as specified.

9. In a cotton harvester, reciprocating frames, the pickers 138 carriedby said frames;

each of said pickers being constructed of a length of polygonal steelrod mounted in a vertical position and having the upwardlyprojectingbarbs 130 formed upon the corners of its lower portion and having itscentral portion twisted to form the screw-threads 140, the lower part ofsaid screw-threads having a greater pitch than the upper part of saidthreads; a plate having polygonal apertures through which the twistedportions 140 of said pickers operate, a bottom having slots throughwhich said pickers operate, guards attached to said bottom and designedto keep out the rubbish and allow the cotton to pass upwardly, andspring-actuated plates pivotally mounted in said slots and designed toallow the cotton to pass upwardly and to prevent its returningdownwardly, substantially as specified.

10. In a cotton harvester, reciprocating frames, the pickers 138 carriedby said frames; each of said pickers being polygonal in crosssection andhaving the twisted portion formin g the screw-threads 140; a platehaving polygonal apertures through which the twisted portions 140 ofsaid pickers operate, a bottom having slots through which said pickersoperate, guards attached to said bottom, springactuated plates pivotallymounted in said slots, and brushes operating above said bottom to carrythe cotton away as it is elevated by said pickers, substantially asspecified.

11. In a cotton harvester, reciprocating frames, a series ofvertically-arranged pipes attached to each of said frames, the pickers138 in said pipes, collars upon the upper ends of said pickers andoperating against the upper ends of said pipes, and retractilecoilsprings placed around said pipes with their lower ends fixed to thepicker-frames and their upper ends engaging said collars in such a waythat the tension of said springs will be exerted to depress saidpickers, relative to said frames, substantially as specified.

12. In a cotton harvester, reciprocating frames, a series ofvertically-arranged pipes attached to each of said frames, the pickers138 in said pipes; each of said pickers being polygonal in cross-sectionand having the twisted portion forming the screw-threads 140; collarsupon the upperends of said pickers and operating against the upper endsof said pipes, and retractile coil-springs placed around said pipes withtheir lower ends fixed to the picker-frames and their upper endsengaging said collars in such away that the tension of said springs willbe exerted to depress said pickers relative to said frames, a plate ofsheet metal 141 secured in position and having polygonal aperturesthrough which the screw-threaded portions 140 of said pickers operate,and collars adj ustably mounted upon said pickers and above said plate,substantially as specified.

13. In a cotton harvester, reciprocating frames, a series ofvertically-arranged pipes attached to each of said frames, the pickers138 in said pipes; each of said pickers being polygonal in cross-section and having the twisted portion forming the screw-threads 140;collars upon the upper ends of said pickers and operating against theupper ends of said pipes, retractile coil-springs placed around saidpipes with the lower ends fixed to the picker-frames and their upperends engaging said collars in such a way that the tension of saidsprings will be exerted to depress said pickers relative to said frames,a plate having polygonal apertures through which the twisted portions140 of said pickers operate, and collars adj ustably mounted upon saidpickers and above said plate as required to limit the downward motion ofsaid pickers, substantially as specified.

14. In a cotton-harvester, reciprocating frames, the pickers 138 carriedby said frames; each of said pickers being polygonal in cross sectionand having the twisted portion forming the screw-threads 140, springsconnecting said pickers to said frames and operating to depress saidpickers, and a plate having polygonal apertures through which thetwisted portions 140 of said pickers operate, substantially asspecified.

15. In a cotton -harvester, reciprocating fram es, the pickers 138carried by said frames; each of said pickers being polygonal incrosssection and having the twisted portion forming the screw-threads140, springs connecting said pickers to said frames and operating todepress said pickers, a plate having polygonal apertures through whichthe twisted portions 140 of said pickers operate, and collars adjustablymounted upon said pickers and above said plate to limit the downwardmotion of said pickers, substantially asspecified.

16. In a cotton-harvester, a frame rigidly mounted upon trucks, a secondframe mounted for vertical reciprocation within said rigid frame,springs attached to said rigid frame and supporting said second frame,verticallyreciprocating picker-frames carried by said second frame, thepickers 138 carried by said picker-frames; each of said pickers beingpolygonal in cross-section and having the twisted portion forming thescrew-threads 140, the plate 141 having polygonal apertures throughwhich the twisted portions of said pickers op.-

I erate, a bottom in said second frame through which said pickersoperate, and brushes operating to remove the cotton from above saidbottom as it is elevated by said pickers; said brushes consisting of theboards 153 and the wire teeth 154 fixed in said boards and projectingdownwardly, and the arms 155 projecting from each end of said boards;the corresponding crank-shafts 147 and 150 rotatably mounted at oppositesides of the machine, and the straps 156 attached to-said arms 155 andpassing around the cranks of said crankshafts and forming bearingssubstantially as specified. y

17. In a cotton-harvester, a frame rigidly mounted upon trucks, a secondframe mounted for vertical reciprocation Within said first frame, racksand pinions connecting said frames for adjusting the position of saidsecond frame relative to said rigid frame, means of opera-ting saidpinions, means of holding said second rack in the desired position,verendless carrier, and means of operating said endless carrier,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

LEWIS C. MCCARTY.

* CHARLES W. FORD.-

\Vitn esses:

W. E. BAILEY, J. F. HIGGINBOTHAM.

